For D.C. protests, Proud Boys settle in at city's oldest hotel and its bar

[mahatmakanejeeves]

For D.C. protests, Proud Boys settle in at city’s oldest hotel and its bar

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For D.C. protests, Proud Boys settle in at city’s oldest hotel and its bar

By Joe Heim and Marissa J. Lang
Dec. 27, 2020 at 4:40 p.m. EST

Located just five blocks from the White House, the Hotel Harrington is the city’s oldest continuously operating hotel and has a long-standing reputation as one of the most affordable in the heart of the District. But over the past few months, the Harrington has been gaining a new reputation: Proud Boys hangout.

The militant right-wing organization that vigorously supports President Trump, which has clashed in violent street battles with members of antifascist groups and others who oppose Trump, has made the Harrington its unofficial headquarters when members come to the District. Several hundred Proud Boys recently stayed at the hotel while in town for the Dec. 12 protest of Joe Biden’s election as president. ... More protests by pro-Trump groups are planned in downtown D.C. on Jan. 6.

Wearing their signature black and gold colors, large numbers of the group spent much of the afternoon of Dec. 12 drinking openly and chanting on the street in front of the hotel at 11th and E streets NW. They ranged in age from late teenagers to 50- and 60-year-olds, though most appeared to be in their 30s and 40s. Others filled the outdoor patio at Harry’s, the hotel bar, where they had gathered on previous protest weekends and on the Fourth of July. Harry’s closed midafternoon, but the patio and street in front of it remained crowded throughout the night.

The repeated and growing presence of Proud Boys at the bar and hotel has unnerved some guests and workers, many of whom are Black and Hispanic and were intimidated by their presence, according to two employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

{snip}

The bar’s website announced it will be closed on Jan. 5 and 6.

{snip}

Peter Hermann and Julie Tate contributed to this report.

Joe Heim
Joe Heim joined The Washington Post in 1999. He is a staff writer for the Metro section. He also writes Just Asking, a weekly Q&A column in the Sunday magazine. Follow https://twitter.com/JoeHeim

Marissa Lang
Marissa J. Lang is a local reporter covering the D.C. metro area. Follow https://twitter.com/Marissa_Jae

[IronLionZion]

1. Proud boys can't afford the Trump hotel

[TigressDem]

4. LOL They spent it all on "protective equipment" not masks obviously. nt

[Pantagruel]

2. Cooks and servers

have a way of injecting "special herbs and seasonings" in the food and drinks of asshole guests.

[TigressDem]

3. The bar's website announced it will be closed on Jan. 5 and 6. (GOOD IDEA) nt

[mr_lebowski]

5. In such tough times it's kinda unfair to blame them ... Proud Boys' money spends like any other

people's money.

Not entirely sure I would support kicking them out just for their political persuasion (alone) anyway. I'm leaning towards 'not'.

[safeinOhio]

6. When political persuasion becomes a hate group.

The Souther Poverty Law Center Classifies The Proud Boys as a Hate Group The Southern Poverty Law Center has been following the group for a long time and said they purposely provoke violence in...

[mr_lebowski]

10. Not saying they shouldn't be shunned in general but business is business

These people have a business to run and I'm sure are in desperate need of money in these times.

And it's likely not legal to kick them out over their politics (alone).

Now if they go around insulting the staff or other customers, inciting violence on the grounds, that's different of course.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. It would be a violation of DC law for Harry's not to serve someone on the basis of politics.

You must have missed my earlier post about this. Here:

From

Sun Dec 13, 2020: A business associating with the "Punk Boys" and other fascists should be boycotted to ruin

In DC, they stay at the Hotel Harrington. They frequent Harry's Bar on the ground level.

A lot of tourists stay at the Hotel Harrington. A lot of people frequent Harry's Bar. The Hotel Harrington is near everything, and it is within the budget of many tourists.

Neither the bar nor the hotel can discriminate against people who live, visit, or work in the District of Columbia on the basis of political affiliation. Under DC law, that is a protected trait.

Here. See for yourself.

Protected Traits in DC Under the DC Human Rights Act

The DC Office of Human Rights enforces the DC Human Rights Act, which makes discrimination illegal based on 21 protected traits for people that live, visit or work in the District of Columbia. The DC Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations and educational institutions.

Protected Traits for Housing, Employment, Public Accommodations and Educational Institutions include:

1. Race: classification or association based on a person’s ancestry or ethnicity
2. Color: skin pigmentation or complexion
3. Religion: a belief system which may or may not include spirituality
4. National origin: the country or area where one’s ancestor’s are from
5. Sex: a person’s gender; sex discrimination includes sex harassment, and discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, breastfeeding, and reproductive health decisions.
6. Age: 18 years or older
7. Marital status: married, single, in a domestic partnership, divorced, separated, and widowed
8. Personal appearance: outward appearance, but is subject to business requirements or standards
9. Sexual orientation: homosexuality, heterosexuality, and bisexuality
10. Gender identity or expression: your gender-related identity, behavior, appearance, expression or behavior which is different from what you are assigned at birth
11. Family responsibilities: supporting a person in a dependent relationship, which includes, but is not limited to, your children, grandchildren and parents.
12. Political affiliation: belonging to or supporting a political party
13. Disability: a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; includes those with HIV/AIDS.

Additional Traits Applicable to Some Areas include:

14. Matriculation (applies to housing, employment and public accommodations): being enrolled in a college, university or some type of secondary school.
15. Familial Status (applies to housing, public accommodations and educational institutions): a parent or guardian with children under 18
16. Genetic information (applies to employment and public accommodations): Your DNA or family history which may provide information as to a person’s predisposition or likely to come down with a disease or illness.
17. Source of Income (applies to housing, public accommodations and educational institutions): origination of a person’s finances
18. Place of Residence or Business (applies to housing and public accommodations): geographical location of home or work
19. Status as a Victim of an Intrafamily Offense (applies to housing): a person who was subjected to domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking
Please note that these definitions are not exhaustive.
20. Credit Information (applies to employment): any written, verbal or other communication of information bearing on an employee's creditworthiness, credit standing, credit capacity or credit history.
21. *NEW* Status as a Victim or Family Member of a Victim of Domestic Violence, a Sexual Offense, or Stalking*(applies to employment): a person or family member of a person who has experienced domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking.

This information is also available in PDF format.

{edited to remove remark directed to the OP the first time this was posted, Sun Dec 13, 2020}

[IronLionZion]

8. Many DC bars/restaurants have posted anti-hate signs

and let customers know that bigots and hate group members are not welcome there.

It's an interesting coincidence that hateful people are closely associated with one political party, but their belonging/supporting of that grand old party is not the reason.

[mr_lebowski]

9. Maybe you missed the thrust of my post which was ...

Probably not good to discriminate against them.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

11. Yes, I saw that. Thanks.

Restaurants in DC appreciate every customer who walks in the door or sits down at a table on the sidewalk outside.

This is not the time to turn down business.

Season's Greetings, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas; whatever you have, have one of them.